Fluid pump



Patented Feb. 8, 1949 FLUID PUMP Thomas A. Markham, Dallas, Tex.,assigner o! forty-nine per cent to Jack J. Smith, Garland,

Tex.

Application March 12, 1945, Serial No. 582,271

2 Claims.

This invention relates to fluid moving apparatus and more particularlyto air compressors.

The principal object of the invention is to provide a rotary,multi-stage compressor consisting of a plurality of radially arranged,two cycle pistons, whose cylinders are either stationary or rotatable,the said pistons being reciprocated in the cylinders by continuousroller engagement with the multi-lobed internal cam surface of a casing.The action of the pistons tend to create a suction through the hollowaxis of the cylinder mounting, through the action of check valvesdisposed in parts which eiect communication between said hollow axis andthe cylinders.

Another object of the invention is to provide a compact and highlyefficient fluid moving device, having exceptionally few working parts,which may be employed as an air compressor or for moving liquids, suchas light oils, water and the like.

With the foregoing objects as paramount, the invention has particularreference to certain features of accomplishment which will becomeapparent as the description proceeds, taken in connection with theaccompanying drawings where- 1n:

Figure 1 is a front elevational view of the invention, with parts invertical section and in which the casing revolves about astationarycylinder assembly.

Figure 2 is a side view in vertical section, taken on line 2-2 on Figurel.

Figure 3 is a view of a slightly modified form of the invention, alsoshowing a revolvable casing but in which the pistons are constrained tofollow the contour of the cam track by roller engagement with undercutedges of the latter.

Figure 4 is a side view, partly in vertical section I of themodification of Figure 3.

Continuing with a more detailed description of the -drawing, referenceis primarily made to Figures 1 and 2 wherein is shown a casing made upof a ring I0 -to which is bolted or otherwise secured, side walls II, toprovide a closed housing. Inasmuch as it is sometimes desirable tomaintain a limited quantity of lubricating fluid in the casing, gasketsI2 are interposed between the walls II and ring I Il.

The casing, in the present embodiment of the invention, is required to:be rotated and, as an example of the manner in which rotation isimparted to the casing, a rim I3 is secured to the periphery of thecasing, having a V-shaped groove I4 therein to accommodate a. V-belt,not shown, but which may be operated by a pulley on the shaft of a motordisposed conveniently close to the (Cl. 23o-177) compressor. Obviously,other means of rotating the casing may be adopted, depending upon therequirements of the device.

For reasons of economy of manufacture and ease of assembly, the cylinderarrangement is made in one piece, comprising the hub I5 and radiallyarranged cylinders I6. The hub I5 has an intake chamber I1 and anexhaust chamber I8, divided by a partition I9. This hub is furtherrecessed at one end to receive the flanged lend 20 of an intake tube 2|while the opposite side of the hub is identically constructed toaccommodate an exhaust tube 22.

For purposes of illustration, the intake and exhaust tubes 2| and 22respectively are each embraced by T flttings 23, by which the casing issupported through uprights 24 from a suitable mounting. It is apparenttherefore that the hub I5 is held stationary with respect to thesupporting means described and the casing III revolves freely on theintake and exhaust tubes 2| and 22 through the medium of anti-frictionbearings 25 mounted directly thereon.

In the walls of the hub I5 are provided ports 26 in the intake chamber I'I, communicating with each of the cylinders I6. In each port isdisposed a check valve 2l, permitting ingress but preventing egress ofiluid. An identical arrangement is provided in the exhaust chamber I3with the exception that the valve 28 in the exhaust ports is reversed topermit egressv but preventing ingress of fluid into the cylinders.

Within each of the cylindersI I6 lreciprocates a piston 29. Thesepistons are preferably solid and each is bifurcated at its outer end toreceive a roller 30 which is in continuous rolling engagement with atrack 3I, bolted or otherwise secured to the inner surface of theperipheral ring I3 of casing I0.

The rollers 30 are each mounted on a. shaft 32.

the ends of which are journaled in fbosses 33, formed on the pistons 29near their outer ends. 'I'hese bosses also serve as the upper bearingsfor rods 34 spaced about the cylinders I6 and which rods, in turn,alford guides for the pistons as they reciprocate in the cylinders, byvirtue of the relationship therewith of the piston bosses 33,

Each of the rods 34 is set in a recess in a shoulder 35 of the hub I5and each has a coiled spring 36 mounted thereon which bears against theshoulder 35 at one end and the boss 33 at the other, the obvious resultbeing to urge the piston 29 against the track 3| to maintain constantengagement between these elements even at high Speeds.

From the foregoing it is apparent that by rotating the casing i0, thecam track 3| will also be rotated and the lobes thereof will movesuccessively into position to actuate Successive pistons and as a lowpoint of the cam function to extend a piston, a quantity of fluid isdrawn into the cylinder through the intake tube 2| and check valve 25,to be exhausted through the check valve 28 and exhaust tube 22 as thepiston rides upon a. high point of the cam. and so on. to produce acontinuous discharge of fluid.

In Figures 3 and 4 is shown a slightly modied form of the invention.This form dispenses with springs for maintaining operative engagementbetween the pistons and track, as will be explained presently.

A casing isformed byv a ring 31, to which is aixed side plates 38 andbetween the plates and ring are 4disposed gaskets 35 to `obviate leakageof the small quantity of lubricant maintained in the casing in somecases.

A cam track 40 is arranged in the casing and While this track may form apart separate from the ring 31, tol be bolted orotherwise securedthereto, it is shown as forming an integral part of the ring and is ofT-shape in transverse section for the purpose to be presently explained.

The cylinder assembly consists of the cylinders 4| machined from asingle piece of stock, which side to the other of the track, an orificea is pro vided in the track at some point about its circumference.

Manifestly, the construction as shown and described is capable ofsomemodification and such modification as may be construed to fall withinthe scope and meaning of the appended claims is also considered to bewithin the spirit and intent of the invention. l

What is claimed is:

1. In an air compressor, a hollow stationary hub having an intake and anexhaust chamber uprights supporting said hub against rotation, aplurality of cylinders stationary with and grouped radially about saidhub, each being in communication with the chambers of said hub. checkvalves in control of said communications, a piston in each of saidcylinders having a bifurcated head, opposed bosses on the head of saidpiston, a shaft having its ends journaled in said bosses, spring loadedguide rods on opposite sides of said Vshaft at each end thereof, saidrods being arranged on the inner periphery of said housing, a rollercarried by the shaft on the head of said piston and receivable in thebifurcation thereof, said roller engageable with said track to eifectreciprocation of said piston against the resistance of said springs whensaid housing'is rotated to cylinder assembly which is held stationary bymeans of the intake tube and exhaust tube 5|, each of which have flangedends 52 countersunk in the ends ofthe hub 42. The tubes 50 and 5I aresupported in any suitable manner, such as by uprights or standards (notshown) so that the casing 31 may be revolved freely as by a belt,

gears or other suitable means. Ball or other type bearings 53 areprovided to reduce friction between the casing andthe tubes 50 and 5| onwhich The rollers 56 of the pair are disposed one on each side of theweb of the track 40 so as to travel on the underside of the track inopposed relationship with the single roller 58, which travels on theinner face of the track. Both surfaces of the track are machined topresent a smooth surface over which the rollers may travel and toprevent any possibility of binding. i

It is understood that the track 40, while shown as having three lobeseffective to cause three pulsations of each piston in a complete cycle,an elliptical track, effecting two pulsations may be substituted or atrack cam having an even greater number of lobes then shown may beemployed without further alteration in structural design of the device.

It has been earlier stated that the case I0 of the previously describedform of the invention or the case 31 of the modified form may, in somecases,`require that a quantity of light oil be placed therein. To insurepassage of this oil from one force passage of 'air through said hub.

2. In a uid moving apparatus, a hollow shaft and hub, the latter havingan intake chamber at one end and an exhaust chamber at the other endthereof, means supporting said shaft and hub against rotation, aplurality of cylinders radiating from said hub, check valves in openingseffecting communication between said chambers and cylinders, a piston ineach of said cylinders having a bifurcated head, lateral bosses formedon said l head, a shaft having its ends journaled in said bosses, aroller on said shaft and operating in the bifurcation of said piston, acircular housing rotatable on said hub and embracing the cylinder andpiston assembly, an undulating cam track in said housing againstv whichsaid roller engages, guide rods on each side of each end of said shaft,parallel with each of said cylinders and whcse,upper ends are slidablyretained in said bosses and spring means mounted on each of said rodsfor maintaining engagement of said roller with said track to effectreciprocation of said pistons by the undulations in said track when saidhousing is rotated. Y

THOMAS A. MARKHAM.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the le ofthis patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 1,000,539 Nauer Aug. 5, 1911"1,236,863 Oiler Aug. 14, 1917 1,526,343 Jouanneaux Feb. 17, 19251,914,141 Lundin June 13, 1933 FOREIGN PATENTS Number Country Date29,200 France 19/5 (Addition to No. 564,400)

